Chapter 1351
The Pathfinders Guild was known for its rigorous apprentice selection process, resulting in Adrian's small cohort of fifteen apprentices, including those who had since departed. Those who left did not betray the guild; each simply followed their own path. Adrian was not inflexible; he allowed his apprentices to pursue their desires, provided their actions did not harm innocents or the common people. A few days prior, he had summoned these former apprentices—now accomplished in their own right—to the capital to assist their youngest martial sister.
Other apprentices trained within the guild, though not under Adrian's direct tutelage. They were called apprentices out of respect, receiving occasional guidance from him, but their martial training primarily fell under the senior martial elders. Adrian's direct apprentices occasionally assisted. These apprentices, skilled in martial arts, were hampered by daily chores, hindering their progress compared to those personally mentored by Adrian. They were not the elite he sought; he needed only the finest. Thus, he hosted a birthday feast, inviting various faction leaders—a debt of gratitude he willingly incurred for their attendance.
In the martial world, loyalty and honor were often boldly proclaimed, yet favors were rarely given without consideration of reciprocal obligations. Everett questioned Adrian, "Adrian, you've never involved yourself in court affairs. Why such lengths now? Do you not trust Carissa and the Mystic Army?"
Adrian, in the weaponry storeroom, selecting a weapon, replied, "If you were Nicholas, what would your first move be?"
Everett pondered, "Wait for the right opportunity?"
"The opportunity will come," Adrian responded, discarding a fan before selecting a sword. "But if I were him, I would first eliminate the capital's generals. With the Mystic Army under Carissa's command, its temporary disintegration would suffice for his success."
A cold glint appeared in Everett's eyes. "You think he would kill Carissa?"
Adrian, flourishing his chosen sword, turned. "How do I look? Handsome?"
Everett glanced at him. "Trying to charm all the capital's widows?"
Adrian nodded. "I must avoid being too flamboyant." He ultimately selected a six-barreled firearm—a unique design of his own—equipped with a sharp obsidian blade. This dual-purpose weapon was both efficient and deadly.
The capital's city gates remained heavily guarded. Though rumors circulated that Gordon might be Nicholas in disguise, the true Nicholas from Nerovia remained unidentified. Carissa had been summoned to the palace repeatedly.
Chapter 1352
After days of deliberation, a consensus emerged, though anxiety persisted. The riverworks project progressed smoothly—a vital initiative—but Salvador hoped to eliminate the rebels first. The workers, genuinely repairing infrastructure and building dams, could hardly be labeled rebels.
Nicholas' subtle approach was designed to provoke the court into deploying troops, giving them justification to rebel against the Mystic Army. This would portray them not as rebels, but as commoners forced into conflict by the government, gaining popular support.
Salvador urged his advisors to force the enemy's hand, branding them traitors to justify swift action. It was a calculated gamble to incite conflict and seize the advantage.
The court remained divided, with some supporting Salvador's aggressive strategy, others advocating for delay, citing the importance of the riverworks project and the pending return of Thomas after defeating Yuvan. Some officials questioned Carissa's leadership, acknowledging her peacetime competence but doubting her wartime abilities, particularly within the capital. Despite her martial prowess and successful Southern Frontier campaigns, her lack of large-scale battle experience left her capabilities uncertain.